ACTION ALERT: THE DREAM ACT - CALL CONGRESS TO PASS THE DREAM ACT AND TUNE IN FOR THE VOTE

THE HOUSE AND SENATE WILL TAKE UP THE DREAM ACT TODAY!

WASHINGTON, D.C. - For close to ten years, MALDEF and other organizations have pushed to make the DREAM Act (the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act) into a reality. Earlier this year, the Migration Policy Institute estimated that roughly 825,000 immigrants would benefit from the Act. According to recent research from UCLA, a conservative estimate of the combined income generated by those benefiting from the DREAM Act would amount to $1.4 trillion (in current dollars) over the next four decades. If Congress passes the DREAM Act, President Obama will sign it into law.

TODAY, both the House and Senate will be taking up the DREAM Act. Call your respective senators and house member NOW! Dial: 1-888-254-5087 or 202-224-3121.

The House will take up the DREAM Act by 3:30PM EST. The Senate session begins at 3:30PM EST with a vote scheduled for later in the afternoon or evening. Tune into CSPAN to watch coverage.

The DREAM Act would help provide a path to citizenship otherwise not available to immigrant youth and young adults, particularly those completing two years of college or military service. Key criteria for a young person to qualify for conditional relief and eventually permanent relief include:

entry into the U.S. before the age of 16;

presence in the U.S. for five consecutive years;

completion of high school (through graduation or G.E.D.) or acceptance into college;

being between 12 and 35 years of age at the time of application; and

establishment of "good moral character" as defined under immigration law.